Coming Down the Pike: Navigating the Impending Talent Crunch

Did you know that the phrase “coming down the pike” was originally coined regarding a traffic interchange called a “turnpike”? Back in the day, turnpikes were used when main roads filled with traffic. They were implemented as a form of innovative transportation control. When traffic was heavy (and as long as a traveler was willing to pay a fare) a secondary road would be opened, and the traveler was soon on his or her way, bypassing the stalled traffic.

Bear with me, I was a history major, so that tidbit fascinated me. 😊

Interestingly enough, “turnpike” is also a term that many of us can use to explain our journey into the field of #technology, or method of entering it. Some of the travelers went the traditional route, earning their four-year Computer Science degree. Some, like myself, chose to pay a fare and shorten our journey via the “turnpike”…or in this case, we developed skills via online training webinars, coding boot camps, and/or accelerated #tech skill training programs.

Preparing Yourself for the Talent Crunch

According to the 2017 Global Talent Crunch study, by 2020, shortages of skilled tech talent will impede global business growth. By 2030, the tech talent crunch is expected to fall short of at least 85.2 million workers… that equates to approximately $8.5 TRILLION, yes, I said TRILLION…in lost revenue opportunity. So, what does this mean? It means that you can start preparing now to take advantage of the plethora of approaching tech opportunities, and just like others, you can do it via a “turnpike.”

Getting Ahead of the Curve

Traditional methods for getting your foot in the door of a tech company meant that you went the university route to, as I mentioned earlier, receive a degree in Computer Science. Women would most likely have had to follow a track in Mathematics because many Computer Science programs were not supportive of gender equality. Either way, you had to have a university-based education at the very least.

But, oh my how have things changed! From online courses published on learning platforms such as Udemy; to 12-week accelerated coding boot camps, such as what you would find at The Eleven Fifty Academy; or, shortened community college programs such as IvyWorks, programs which provide support and wrap-around services for their program participants; one can develop a #tech career in a remarkably flexible and innovative way.

Knowing the Areas Where the Opportunities Will Exist

Let’s get back to the impending talent crunch that I pointed out in the survey mentioned above. I am sure that you are asking by now…so where are the opportunities?

Well, they actually exist in two areas when it comes to #skills:

Hard vs. Soft Digital Skills

Hard Digital Skills include:﻿

Agile Methodologies such as Scrum, Extreme Programming and Lean Development

Web Development

Cloud Computing

User (UX) Experience Design

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Soft Digital Skills include:

Change Management

Emotional Intelligence

Collaboration

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Passion for Learning

So, if you are anything like me, an individual as part of the “gig economy,” looking to pivot in your career, or seeking to improve your overall quality of life with a robust career, I encourage you to explore the possibilities available with this incoming talent crunch.

Get ahead of the curve by innovatively preparing yourself for one of the many #tech opportunities “coming down the pike.”

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